CONDITIONS AT FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 122, 22 May 1920, Page 13

CONDITIONS AT FIJI.

THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS.

Amongst the passengers who arrived by the Atua from Fiji -was Mr. J. G. Rowley, of Sydney, who is a frequent visitor to these Islands on busMiesa. In course of a chat With a representative of the "Auckland Star," Mr. Rowley said that the outlook for labour in Fiji •was extremely bad, and many Indians would be leaving for their own country in the near future, three steamers having been chartered for that-i purpose. Not a few of the Indians intended to come to New Zealand. He did not think there would be any more actual rioting, but he would not be surprised if there was a strike on a large scale, when the sugar mills started crushing. The large mill at Lautoka commences early next month. The crops from Sigatoka, through Nodi, on to Lautoka, are very promising this season, also in the Penang district, but at Ba the sugarcane is poor owing to a pest known as Johnstone grass. This was originally introduced for pasture, but has spread to such an extent that it gets in the plantations and chokes the cane. THE CATTLE INDUSTRY. As Mr. Rowley is interested in tho cattle trade he was asked how that industry was progressing at Fiji. He replied: "Dairying and cattle raising are fast becoming important industries throughout the group. There are plenty of fat stock available for export, but the cost' of transit to Australia has been raised from £0 15/ to £7 14/ per head, which makes it expensive to ship to that market. A representative of a large meat canning industry is at present exploring tho Islands for a site, with a view to erecting works." CHANCE FOR NEW ZEALAND. "Australian cattle havo been prohibited entering Fiji for fear of the tick, and as the order does not apply to New Zealand I have come here to pick up a few bulls." z FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. Mr. Rowley stated also that Fiji is suffering from financial stringency. The Estimates, recently published, showed a deficit on the past year of £26,000. It was thought the income tax would be Increased, and others raised to meet the shortage.